Brake mechanism



E. G. MUELLER BRAKE MECHANISM Oct. 11, 1938.

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E. G. MUELLER BRAKE MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR HIS ATTORN EY d 2 en?. WL. fr ,2 2 1 w www Patented Oct. l1, 1938 UNITED STATES rA'rENT? OFFICE BRAKE MECHANISM Emil G. Mueller, Swissvale, Pa., assigner The American Brake Company, Swissvale, Pa., a. corporation of Missouri Application Mayu, 1937,y serial No, 141,315

`1o Claims. (o1, 18s-46.) Y. v

My invention relates tol brake mechanism', and particularly to improvements ink brake mechanism of the type described and claimed in an application for Letters Patent of the United 5 States, Serial No. 60,535, filed byNorman W.

Tilley, on January 23, 1936, for Locomotive driv- I shall describe one form kof brake mechanism embodying my invention, Yand shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

- l'n the accompanying drawings', Fig. 1 is aview, partly diagrammatic and partly inside elevation, showing" one form of brake Amec'hanisri'i 'embodying my invention applied to theV driving wheels of a locomotive -having three pairs'of'driving wheels. `Fig. 2 is a plan view of the brake `rigging employed in the brake mechanism shown in Fig. l. Fig; 3 is a side view of one of the mechanism shown in the preceding views. Fig. 4 is a side View of one of the hanger levers I2 forming partof the brake mechanism shown in the preceding views.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views. l .I

'Referring to the drawings, Ihave hereshown brake mechanism embodying my 'invention `arranged for use in connectionwwithV thefdriving 40 wheelsk I, 2, and 3 of Valocomotive of thet'ype having three pairs' ofdriving wheelslocatedas closely together asthe necessary'clearance be,

tween the wheels themselves will permit in order Vto decrease the overall length of the locomotive, `and thus facilitate the Vnegotiation oi' curves by the locomotive, the various parts Yof the locomotive other than thedriving wheels being omit- .ted from the drawings to simplify the disclosure.

The brake mechanism comprisesa brake beam 4 which extends transversely of the'locomotive at the left-hand side Yof the wheelsY I, a brake beam 5 which extends transversely of the, locomotive between the Wheels lj and 2, a brake beam-^6 which extends transversely of the locomotivel betweenthe wheels 2 and '3, andra, praise, beam 1 Vhanger assemblies forming part of the brake which extends transversely'of the locomotive at the right-hand side of the'wheels 3. 'I'he brake beams are all locatedjinjthe same horizontal plane, whichplaneis disposed rconsiderably below Vthe horizontal plane passing through the vcenters of the wheels. l

'I'he brake beam 4 is supported for movement between a `brake applying and a brake releasing position by kmeans vof a'pair of hanger levers 8, the upper ends of which are pivotallysecured to the locomotive framer by means of pins 9, and

thev lower ends of which Yare 4pivotally connected with the opposite ends of the 4brake beam, only one of the levers 3 being shown in theV drawings.

Secured to each of the levers-8 intermediateY its ends is'. abrake headl I0 carrying, a brake shoe Il whichjiwhen theybrake beam 4 is moved to its brake applying position, is adapted to en.- gage thetread of the'wheel I in a zone located some distance vbelow the horizontal plane passing throughthe axis of the wheel.

Thebrakegbeam 1 is supported for movement -between ra,VV brake applying anda brake releasing positionl by means` of two lhanger levers I2, one

of which is locatedateach sideV of thelocomotive. VOnly one of the hangerglevers I2 is` shown in the drawings, and asbest seen in Fig.'4, this hanger 'lever comprises 'an upwardly extending arm l2, therupperend of which is'formed with an Voilset portion 4which-extends into the plane of the Wheelsat'one side of the adjacent wheel 3, and the' lower end of which lis formed integrally with a shaftl |21'. The shaft `I2b is journaled in a suitable bearing I3 formed in the locomotive frame, and is`provided at the end opposite to the `arm I 2E with `a reduced portion I2d to which a depending'arm |29 vis secured. Each arm I2 is disposed some distancefinside ofthe plane of :the wheels, -as willfbe Yapparent from kan inspection of Fig; 4, and the'lower ends of these arms are pivotally connectedwith the brake beam Tin supporting relation thereto at the oppositefendsof Vthe brake'beam.V `'The arms I2a`are each providedl attheir upper ends with a brake-head I4 carrying agbrake' shoe I5 which, when thebrake beam 'l is moved to its brake applying position, is adapted to engage the tread Yof' the whee1f3 in a zone', located approximately the `same 'distance above the horizontal Lplane passing through the axis ofthewheels 3, that AztheV zone, in which the shoes II are adapted to engage the `wheels I is located belowthe plane passing through the axis Iof the wheels I.

, `The brake beam-'Bris supported at'each end for ,movement between a Vbrakewapplyingand a v V'vers I6, and are pivotally*supportedV attheirup` 5. The hanger levers 16 are pivotallyk secured intermediate their ends to a second pair of hanger levers I8 intermediate their ends by means of trunnions I9 which are formed integral with' the levers I5, and which extend through vclear.

ance holes 20 formed in the levers i8; and pivotally supported vby the leversl. at theirupper ends are brake headsfZl carrying brakeshoes" V22 which are adapted toy engage the treads of the wheels I in zones located diametrically'opposite tothe zones in which the shoes Hare adapted y to engage the wheels l. lThe hanger levers I8 vof each pairare disposed inv planes. located outside of the planes of ytheY contig-unashanger` leper Vends by rmeans of `pins lor boltsA 23 vmounted. in

'spacedflugs 24. formedfonfthe locomotive frame'. The lower ends of the levers'lS havepivotaly se- Acuredthereto brake `h'eadsV 25 carrying brakes shoes 26 which areadapted to engage the VVwheels Y2 inV zones which 'arel'ocated the same distance .below the axisof'the wheelsl'2 `asthe'zonesin which the shoes 4Il carrie'dby the hangerlevers 8 are adapted' to engagethewheels i.; The Aproper spacing between thetleversfi .at their lower' endsjis maintained by means V'of bosses 21 formedV` onn the levers, 'while 'the' proper spacing between these levers 4at their upper ends is'maintained' by the associated brake 'head 2Il`."fThe spacing "between the levers Vl 8 at their upper'ends ismaintained by oneof'the'lugs 24,'.and yat their lower ends by rthe associated brake headlli. The

distance which thelouter levers IB'and'I BYof each hanger assembly is spaced Yfrom'the'outer'fces of the associated wheels lnotsuflicient vto* in'- terfere with thev side rodsvoithe'locomotive The brake beam B is supprt'edat each end .for movement between -a-brake "applying and a brake releasing position by means Vof'a hanger assembly, the various parts of fwhichl are Vsimilar to the corresponding" parts of the :hangerassemblies'for supporting thebrake beam 5,' and the parts of 'the hange assembllesforV supporting 'the brake beamB are designated bythe same `reference characters Yas the corresponding'. parts -of the hanger assembliesior supporting Vthe brake beam 5, with the distinguishingexponent Il added thereto. Sincethe parts of the hanger assem- .blies for supporting the'brake beam 6 are similar 'to thosefof the hanger assemblies` for supporting thefbrake' beam v5, itis believedV that thev construction'of'these parts willllbe apparent from an inspection ofthe drawings and from theforegoing description without further detailed description. lThe hanger levers 181 of .each hanger. assembly for"'supporting-thermes beam '6. arepivotany vmounted at'their upper ends on a pinlorbolt 23%,

and are provided at their lowerI ends with- 'a brake adapteduto engage the tread of the wheel. "'.Each

pail` of hanger levers 51 is provided at'the upper ,ends of thejlever's with a brake head v3| carrying Ya brake shoe 32V which isv ada'pted to engage lthe rtread' of theassoiated wheel 2 in the -zone which Y is located diametrically opposite to that in which the shoe 26 is adapted to engage the wheel 2.

The brake mechanism also comprises means for actuating the brake beams between their brake releasing and brake applying positions to eiect the application of the brakes. As here illustrated, these means include a pair of brake cylinders C which are mounted at one Vend of the locomotive. VrThese brake cylinders are of similar construction, andinasmlich as they form no part ofA my present invention, except in so far as they v"are used in connection with the remainder of the brake' mechanism, it believed that for purn poses of thepresent disclosure, it is sufcient to tically disposed brake cylinder lever 33 which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a transverse shaft 34, and the lower ends of the vbrake cylinder levers 33 are each operatively connected with an associated horizontally disposed iioating lever 35 intermediate its ends by means of .a pull rod 36. The transverse shaft 34 is adapted to .be secured at VYits endsin suitable supports (not shown) rnountedfonv the engine frame. Each pull rod'EB is provided at the end which is connected to the associated floating lever 35 with a' slackadjuster'3! of well-known construction. The inner endsA of v:the floating 'levers' 35, arev connected by means'ofpullV rods 3S `with theV brake beam 1VV at points equally spaced from its ends, while the outer ends of the floating levers'35 are connected by means of pull rods 39 with equalizing levers 4ll'at points intermediate the ends of the levers '40. VEach pull rod 38 is provided at each end with a jaw which receives the associated lever y35 or brake beam l, as the case may be, the jaw on the one pull rod 38 being made sufciently .long to completely straddle the to the. associated equalizing lever 4l) with a jaw i which straddles thev brake beam 6 and which receives.therfequalizing lever, and at the opposite Yend withya `jaw which receivesA the associated ,equalizing. lever `43. l.

The equalizing levers 43'are each connected at rrtheir inner ends with the brake beam 5 at points equally'fspaced Afrom its endsbysmeans of links 44 while the outer ends of these equalizing levers are each connected by means of .a pull rod 45 with thebrake beam 4 at pointsequally spaced from its ends. The pull rods 45 areprovided at the ends which are connected with the equalizing levers 43 .with'a jaw-which straddlestheY brake beam 5 and .receives the'Y associated equaiizing lever', and' at their opposite ends Ywith the brake beam 4.' 7 A When the brake cylinders are vented to atmos phere, as will normally be the casefthe brake beams are held in theirbrake releasing positions in whichfthey are shown in the drawings by the a jaw which receives 'l All() vlevers to engage the wheels 3.`

releasing springs mounted in the brake cylinders,

and under'these conditions, thepbrake shoes exert substantially no braking effort on the wheels.

When it is desired to apply the brakes, fluid pressure is simultaneously supplied tor the two brake cylinders C, which fluid causes'each of the push rods 52 to move outwardly in theY associated cylinder in opposition to the bias of the release springs. This movement ofthe push rods acts through the linkagershown in Figv.-2 Yto move the brake beams 4, 5, 6, and Ito their brake applying Y positions in a manner which will be readily-'understood from an inspection of the drawings. The

movement of the brake beam `to its brake applying position causes the associated hanger levers l2 to rotate in a counterclockwi'se direction, and hence causes the brake shoes |5 securedto these On the initial movement of the brake beam 6 to the right, the hanger levers |61 rotate about the trunnions |91 on which theyV aresupported vfrom thevlevers |81, and the associated brake shoes 32- move into engagement with the wheels 2.

Upon further movement of the brake beamB to the right,-the levers 61 rotate about the pivotal connection between these leversand the associat-V ed brake heads 3|, and thus move the levers 81 in a counterclockwise direction about the pins 231 on which they are supported from the' locomotive frame. brake shoes 'carried by these levers are moved into engagement with the wheels 3, and on the 'Y completion of the movementof the brake beam 6 to its brake applying porsitiomthe shoes 30 and 32 are rmly pressed against the Wheels 3 and` 2,

Y respectively.

AVThe movement of the brake beam Stoits brake applying position acts through the hanger levers 'I6 and `I8Y to press the brakeshoes 25 and 22 against the wheels 2 and respectivelyin the same manner that Vthe movement of the brake 5 beam 6 to its brake applying position acts through the hanger levers |61 and |81 t'o press the Vbrake shoes 30 and 32 Aagainstthe'wheels'3'and2.

Themovement of the brakebeam 4 to its brake applying position causes the` associated hanger levers 8 to rotate in a counterclockwisel direction, and hence causes the brake shoes v|| to become pressed against. the wheel l Y It will be seen, therefore, that whenY fluid pressure is supplied to the brake cylinders C', all of the brake shoes are pressed-against'the wheels, and the action of the brakemechanismfis lsuch that a substantial force effective to press any of lthe shoes against the wheels willnot be developed until all of the shoes have been moved inte engagement with the wheelswith which they are associated, and thereafter the kforce effective to press each of the shoes against'the' associated wheel is approximately the same. `This-"insures that substantially the same braking'effort will be developed on each of the wheels of the locomotive.

When the fluid supplied to the brake cylinders of the brake mechanism is subsequently vented,

the release springs moveth push rods into the Y brake cylinders towtheir retracted positions, which movement releases the force tending to press the shoes against the wheels, and hence releasesthe brakes. s Y,

One advantage of brake mechanism embodying my invention is that since none of the pivotal connections for any of the brake hanger leversis located between thewheels, the minimum spacing winch must be provided between the wheels is clear themselves'.` I

On the movement of the levers |81, the

` 3 limited only to that `required for the wheels to fAnotlierV advantage of brake mechanism embodyingmyinventionristhat the pivotal connection between the brake'r hangers themselves, bef tween 'the brake hangersrand the brake shoes, and between the brake hangers and the associated brake beams are so arranged that substantially no torsional stress -is` exerted onthese members during an application of the brakes. Y

at -least rtwo longitudinally'aligned wheels at one side of` the vehiclearranged closelytogetlier, a first pairvr of hanger levers disposed von opposite sides of the closest portions of said wheels and pivotally attached at one end to the vehicle and provided at the otherrend with a brake shoe which Y is adapted to engage one of said wheels, a. second pair-ofhanger levers disposedon opposite sides of saidwheels and pivotally'V attached to thelevers of said firstrpair 'and provided at Vone end with a brake shoe which is adapted to engage the other wheel, and. means' connected Vwith the levers of said second pair at `the ends opposite tothe associated shoe for actuating the levers of -both pairs to press the shoes into engagement with said 2. Inra. brake mechanism'for a vehicle having a plurality of pairs of vwheels located `closely together to facilitate negotiation of curves by'the vehicle, a first pairof hanger levers disposed on opposite sides ofthe nearest portionsof two adjacent lwheels at one side of thevehicle and pivotally attached at one Yend to the vehicle and provided at'the other ena with a brake snee which is adaptedto engage one of saidtwo adjacent wheels, v

asecond pair of hanger leversv disposed on op'- posite sidesof the contiguous portions lof said two adjacentwheels Vand pivotally attached to the levers of saidvrst pair and provided at one end with a brake shoe which is adapted to engage the otherof said twoadjacent Wheels, a brake beam pivotally connected with the levers of said second pair at the endsvopposite to the associated shoes, and vmeans for movingk said brake beam between ,brake applying and brake releasing Apositions to vactuate the levers of both pairs. Y s 3. Inra brake mechanism for a vehicle having a. plurality of pairs ofwheels llocated closely together to facilitate'negotiation of curves by the vehicle, arstpair of hanger levers disposed on opposite sides of thecontiguous portions of two adjacent 'wheels on one side of the vehicle and pivotallyY attached at one end to the vehicle and provided at the other end with a brake shoe which is adapted to engage one of said two adjacent Wheels, a secondpairV of hanger levers disposed on' j opposite sidesv ofthe contiguous portions of said two adjacent wheels and pivotally attached intermediate their ends to the levers of said rst pair intermediate their ends and provided at one end with a brake shoe which is adapted to engage the `other of said two adjacent wheels, and means connected thel levers of said second pair at the ends opposite to the associated shoe for acv 24o sho-e which is adapted to engage the `tread of the other of said two adjacent wheels, and means contuating the levers of both pairsto press the shoes into engagement with the associated wheels.

,4. In'a brake mechanism for a vehicle having a plurality of pairs of wheels located closely together to facilitate negotiation Vof curves by the vehicle, a first pair of. hanger levers disposed on opposite sides of the closest portions of two adjacent wheels on the same sid-e of the vehicle and pivotally attached at their upper ends tothe vehicle and provided at vtheir lower ends with a brake shoe which is adapted to engage the tread of one of said two adjacent Wheels below the Y closest portionsof saidrtwo adjacent wheels, a

' gether to facilitate negotiation of curves by the Y to second pair Vof hanger levers disposed on opposite sides of the closest portions of said4 two adjacent l'wheels and pivotally attached intermediate their ends to the levers of said first pairintermediate their ends and provided at their upper ends with a brake shoe which is adapted to engage the tread -ofitheother of said two adjacent wheels above the closest-portions of said two adjacent Wheels, and means connected -with the levers Yof saidsecond pair at their lower ends for actuating the levers of both pairs to press saidbrake shoes into vengagement with the associated wheels.

5. Ina brake mechanism for avehicle having a plurality of pairs' of wheelsr'located closely together -to facilitate negotiation vof curves by the vvehicle,'a first pairof hanger levers disposed on loppositel sides of the'closest portions ofV two adjacent Wheels on thesame snideV of the vehicle and pivotally attached at their upper .ends vto-the vehicle and provided at, their lower -ends with a ,brake shoe ,which is adapted Jto-'engage the tread of one of said two adjacent wheels,v a second pair of hanger levers disposed between the levers of said first pair and said two adjacent wheels and pivotally attached intermediate: their ends tothe levers of said rst pair intermediate .their ends and provided at their upper ends with` a brake nected with the levers of said second pairat their lower ends `foractuating the levers Aof both pairs'V vto press said -brake shoes into engagement with the associated wheels.

6.`In a brake mechanism for a vehicle having a plurality of pairs of wheels located closely to- .pair and provided at one end with a brake shoe which is adaptedV to engage the tread of the other of; said two adjacent -wheelsat a zoneloycated above the horizontal plane Vvextending through the axes of the wheels, and meansv connected with the leversof said second pair at theirlower ends for actuating the levers of both pairs to press said Ibrake shoes into engagement with the associated wheels. Y

, 7*. Ina brake mechanism for a vehicle having i a plurality of pairs of wheels located .closelytogether to facilitate negotiation of curves bythe Y vehicle, a first pair of hanger levers disposed on opposite sidesrof rthe closest Vportions ofv two `adjacent wheels and pivotally attached at. their upper endsto "the,y vehicie and p'rvided at their Vlower ends with abrake shoe which is'adapted to engage one of said two adjacent wheels at a zone located below the horizontal plane extending through ythe'axes of the wheels, a second pair of hanger-levers disposed on opposite sides of the contiguous portions of said two adjacent wheels and pivotally attached intermediate their `ends to the levers of said first pair intermediate their ends and provided `at rtheir upper ends with a brake'shoe which is Aadapted to engage the other of said two adjacent wheels at a zone located above theV horizontal plane extending through the axes of the wheels, and means connected with the levers of said second pair at their lower ends for actuating the levers of both pairs to press said brake shoesinto engagement with` the associated wheels.

8. In a'brake mechanism for ajvehicle having at least one pair of wheels, two'brake beams extending transversely of the vehicle on opposite sides of said pair of wheels below the horizontal planel passing through their axes,V two hanger levers one located at each Vside of the vehicle and each comprising an upwardly extending arm secured at itszlower end to a shaft journaled in the locomotive frame. and aV depending arm secured to said shaft-at the rend opposite to said upwardly extending arm, each said upwardly'ex- Vtending arm being providedwith an offset portion which extends into the'plane of the associated wheelV at one side thereof above the axis of the wheel and which carries a brake shoe for engagement with the associated wheel, j and said downwardly extending arms being pivotally secured to the opposite ends of one of said brake beamsin supporting relation thereto, other brake shoes disposed on the Vopposite sides of said wheels from the shoes connected with'said hanger levers fand Voperatively connected withv the other brake beam, and means for actuatingysaid brake beams to cause. said brake .shoes to frictionallyengage the associated wheels.

9. In a brake mechanism for a vehicle having at least one pair of wheels, two brake beams extending transversely of the vehicle on opposite sidesofsaid pair of wheels below the horizontal planepassing through their axes, `two hanger levers one located at each side of the vehicle and `each comprising an upwardly extending arm secured at its lower end to a shaft journaled in the locomotive frame and a depending arm secured to saidl shaft at the end opposite to said upwardly extending arm, each said upwardly extending arm beingrprovided with an offset portion which extends-into the plane of the associated wheel at one side thereof above the axis of the wheel and which carries a brake shoe for shoes .disposed on the opposite sides of said wheelsV from the shoes connected with said hanger levers and'operatively connected with the other brake beam,7and meansy for simultaneously actuating said one brake beam away from said one pair of wheelsand said other brake beam toward said one pair of wheels to cause said brake shoes to frictionally engage the associated wheels. Y

10. In a brake mechanism for a vehicle having at least one pair rof 4wheelatwo brake beams ex- `l tending transversely o'f the vehicle on opposite levers one located at each side of the vehicle and each comprising an upwardly extending arm secured at its lower end to a shaft journaled in the locomotive frame and a depending arm secured to said vshaft at the end opposite to said upwardly extending arm, each said upwardly extending arm being provided with an offset portion which extends into the plane of the associated wheel at one side thereof above the axifs of the Wheel and which carries a brake shoe for engagement with the associated Wheel, and said downwardly extending arms being pivotally secured to the opposite ends of one of said brake beams in supporting relation thereto,` other brake r shoes disposed on the opposite sides of said wheels from the shoes connected with said hanger levers and operatively connected with the other brake beamytwo oating levers connected at one end with said one brake beam at points equally spaced from its e'nds and at the other end with said other brake beam at points equally spaced from its ends, ythe point of connection of each floating lever with the one brake beam being at the opposite yend of the beam from its connection with the other beam, and means for actuating said floating levers connected with said oating levers intermediate their ends.

EMIL G. MUELLER. 

